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Parade of Homes

Whew! The journey to the completion of this AVB Parade Home resulted in an amazing house built for four. Located on a sloped lot on Indian Lake, this "industrial farmhouse" is warm, cozy and definitely welcoming. From day one, before pencil ever hit paper, the homeowners knew they wanted a home that offered lake living with incredible views, an open main level for entertaining and a walk-out for easy access to the water. I was able to help them achieve their goal by working with the AVB architect and crew to come up with the perfect floor plan that met all their needs. The must-have list included weathered brick, barn doors, wood floors, shiplap, and a cream-colored home from top to bottom, inside and out. As I stroll through the photos taken by Connie Arnsman, I realize that this home is the dream home they had in mind! So where did it all begin? I am asked that question over and over again, and I absolutely love the answer because it is my favorite part of the house...the corbels! Looking at the picture it is hard to gauge how large they really are, but they are HUGE! I needed seven total for the exterior and I refused to buy brand new ones or even have some made. I knew they had to be old, chippy and completely awesome! My lucky day arrived when I was shopping at one of my favorite spots in downtown Kalamazoo, The Heritage Company, and I ran into a gentlemen who happened to have exactly what I needed. After some sanding and a little paint, they are the crowning touch on this industrial farmhouse! We also used a dark gray metal roof, board and batten cement board, weathered brick, metal chimney cap, black rain chain, house numbers custom made on Etsy, and black windows. All those elements worked perfectly together to give this home a classic, yet very unique look, that is absolutely perfect for this young family!

Enough about the exterior, let's talk about the interior finishes! The kitchen is the heart of the home, so my goal was to make it functional and perfect for entertaining. The design was built around a custom island made by the Amish in Indiana, and painted the same distressed black that you will see throughout the home. With the use of old doors, tin ceiling tiles and more old corbels, this island is a masterpiece! The other major feature in this kitchen is the open shelves placed under the upper cabinets.

By adding these shelves and raising the cabinets to the ceiling, we created a convenient place for everyday dishes and glassware at an arm's reach. They are made of solid butcher block and held by floating shelf brackets, as well as black brackets underneath for a touch of metal against the weathered brick. Speaking of metal, the custom made wine rack tucked in the corner was the perfect use of this otherwise unusable space.

The warm tones of the hardwood floors under foot make the entire main level feel warm and comfortable. Two different countertops were used, both quartz, giving the kitchen a lived-in look that is very pleasing to the eye. The mismatched lighting throughout the kitchen, as well as the entire home, was done intentionally to make it appear as though the home was built over time. The walls and ceiling are painted in a warm cream, and the trim and cabinets are the perfect off-white. By keeping those elements neutral, it allows the black windows, beams and brick to really pop! I also used cream curtain panels and cream shag rugs to help pull all the spaces together. Most of the furniture in the home came from KalamazooKitty, of course, as well as some other local shops in and around Kalamazoo, Michigan. The dining table and benches were custom made by the same craftsman who made the island. This farm table is the perfect spot to enjoy dinner with family or play a round of cards looking out over the water.

Be sure to glance up while enjoying your meal or you will miss one of the greatest features in this home...the metal ceiling! More cream walls and curtains, as well as another pair of old corbels, make this dining room feel light and pretty. You may have noticed that the curtain rods are not your average, off-the-shelf rods holding up the curtains. Instead, they are black pipe with pipe fittings attached to the walls to add dimension and texture up high. They are actually "floating" along the brick wall so the brick was not harmed or altered in any way.

By-pass pantry doors and the coat closet door were made by the homeowner out of gray shiplap boards bought at a home improvement store. A pipe handle was the perfect choice to adorn these incredible doors! Looking for more space for guests, I designed a "sofa table" out of butcher block and black pipe that is counter height to accommodate more barstools. Natural woven rugs & seagrass barstools were added throughout the home for texture and comfort.

Powder Bath

Finishing off the main floor is the powder bath and laundry room. Located just off the kitchen, these two rooms are functional and convenient. More open butcher block shelving, as well as shiplap, make great use of a small space. The MDF boards used for shiplap were painted and hung horizontally from floor to ceiling. The powder bath vanity is yet another creation from down south, Indiana! It is the perfect size and offers a little storage underneath on an open shelf. The floor in this little jewel box is a patterned cement tile and makes my heart go pitter patter!

Master Bath

A black metal mirror and old ladder finish off this space perfectly. The laundry room serves as a mudroom as well. It is home to a bench and closet for coats, boots and umbrellas. Open shelves above the washer and dryer add more storage, but in a pretty way! Follow the arrow and head upstairs... however, it is for adults only...as it contains just a master bedroom and master bath. This bedroom is both spacious and cozy as it overlooks the fountain spouting into the water below.

Master Bed

The homeowner wanted gray and cream in her bedroom, as well as a fan with "bling" that she ordered online. A custom-made headboard adds texture and dimension to this room with layers of linens on the king-size bed. I love the burlap fringed bedskirt I ordered online, paired with all the cream and gray in this expansive room! The adjoining master bathroom has totally awesome sheet vinyl on the floor (yes, I said sheet vinyl!). This bathroom is warm and full of charm.

Master Bath

A corner tub allowed us the room to have a vanity for each, as well as a storage cabinet from floor to ceiling. The shower in the opposite corner is covered in classic subway tile with dark gray grout for easy maintenance. My favorite part of this room has to be the chunky mirrors hanging over each vanity. They are the perfect wood tone to add warmth and character to this somewhat large bathroom. Heading to the lower level, you will notice the black and cream staircase that winds its way through the center of the home. This home, although you wouldn't know it from the outside, actually has 4 levels! When heading down from the kitchen, you reach a small floor with a workout room, bedroom and ensuite bath.

For the young lady of the family, I created a very casual, bohemian room that gave her the space to be creative and have fun. A pallet bed and pretty chandelier set the mood for hanging out with her cousins and friends. I maintained the simple color scheme of cream and gray, mixed in with warm woods. The walls are a pale gray, while the ceiling remains cream.

Her bathroom is conveniently attached to her room and has the same sheet vinyl on the floor with cream cabinets and gray walls. I wish you could see this vinyl in person! A barn wood mirror and metal light fixture give her everything she needs to get ready for school in the morning. Built-in shelves with metal bins are hidden behind the door and offer tons of storage for make-up and hairbrushes. I love to hang a window curtain instead of a shower curtain to add height to a small bathroom. Extra long, clear shower liners can be ordered online to keep the water in.

"Great" Room

Moving down to the last level in the home, you will find an incredible entertaining space with a pool table, mini kitchen and room for playing games. With 16 foot ceilings on this level, we warmed it up by adding MDF slats around the room from floor to ceiling. Painted the wall color, they make a subtle statement by adding character to the large expanse of walls. The focal point of this room is the large wall covered in old ceiling tiles; another score at The Heritage Company. A giant TV will eventually hang over the tile to give this family and their guests a great view from anywhere in the room. Vintage lighting and more furnishings from KalamazooKitty finish off the overall feel of this "great" room! Lastly, this level has a small laundry room for the kids and one more bedroom and bath.

The young man of the family will occupy this last bedroom. Made entirely of old wood crates, this bed unit is loaded with storage all the way around. The walls and carpet are the same as his sister's room, but the hall bath has a look of its own.

Hall Bath

With vinyl tile squares on the floor, this bathroom is a little more masculine, but is still in the gray and cream color scheme. A metal mirror, long curtain and large vanity is all this young man needs to get ready for baseball practice. A hidden closet full of shelves behind the door gives him some storage space and a place to stash a hamper. Directly across from this hall bath is the door that leads to the backyard of paradise! A paver patio with a firepit and built-in seating is the perfect place for this family to gather with friends on a warm, summer Michigan night. S'mores, anyone?

For a look at all the professional photos and a few of my unprofessional photos, click here!